The Ottawa free trader., 1887-10-15
TIE PEORIA CONVENTION.


nesday WAS, as expected, notable conver
tion, both In the number and character O
the men present as well as the importanc
of the work accomplished. Delegates wei
present from five States besides Illinois
from 25 20 80 counties Of this State.
Col Isaac Taylor of Peoria called tn
convention TO order, and, after prayer b.
IT, Rev. Bishop Spaldiug, introduced
Mayor Kinsey of Peoria. who, In a shor
address, welcomed the delegates to Peoria
Gov. Oglesby was then made temporar.
chairman, who, In accepting the honor
made an address, In the course of which h,
sale;
The great Mississippi Valley is only GU
off from the Atlantic by an elevation o
ten feet Of prairie soil. Will the govern
ment cut Though that ten feety Think oi
great nation like ours, strong in all It's re
sources, hesitating In the face of what |.
being done by other nations year aftel
year 10 let the waters Of the great lakes
flow peacefully into the rivers of the Mis-
sissippi Valley. As water question merely
II would be altogether wise In the nation
TO let the waters escape in the gulf These
thoughts spurred the people on 10 call this
convention, to bring this question again t'
the attention of the general government
All the northwest is of the same feeling II
Is as important TO Illinois that the Missis-
sippi be improved rs that the Illinois
should be improved. The United States
cannot afford to disregard this work any
longer. whether II cost 100000, $15,
100000 or $50 0,0O0,0 900.
Secretaries were then chosen (among
them f. J, Ward of this county, and com.
mittees appointed.
Major Hanbury, of the u s. Eng. Corps
at Chicago, was then introduced, who made
careful review of the grand possibilities
of the project Showing that only short
ana shallow cut would be necessary to cor.
meet Lake Michigan with the Illinois river
he said:
From New York up the Hudson to AL.
bany, west by the present route of the Erie
Canal to Buffalo, thence by the lakes to the
head of Lake Michigan, across the low di-
vide into the valley of the Illinois, and
down that river into the Mississippi and
the Gulf of Mexico. Such In general was
the grand scheme for internal Transports
tion entertained and inaugurated by such
men as Albert Gallatin, Dewitt Clinton,
Robert Morris and other patriotic spirits,
whose craftsmanship and commercial ga,
gacity were not confined within the little
limits of their own districts, but with com.
prehensive grasp saw the capabilities and
possibilities of the far west and their bear,
ing upon and Importance and prosperity to
the East.
His estimate of the cost of the work COM
pleted is ,240.
In the afternoon Hon. s. NJ Cullom was
made permanent chairman, committees ap-
pointed, &C., when the committee adjaurn-
ed to Wednesday.
On Wednesday morning while waiting
for the committee on resolutions, addresses
were made by Senator Dorr of Chicago
who said that here was chance to make
the grandest Improvements the world ever
saw st so small cost. With cheap rates
the U. =. could control the markets Of the
world, and the way.to secure them Is to
improve the waterways; and he predicted
that unless we do "improve our waterways
our foreign grain trade will be practically
lost inside of five years"
Judge Clapp of Memphis also made an
address that reused the greatest enthusi
asm, referring to the undeniable fact that
the rivers would prevent, as Senator Cul.
lom said, dismem mberment of the Union
and during the war the fact was never lost
sight Of that the North never would permit
another government TO centrOl the Missis
sippi. Now, North and South should join
In Its improvement. Congressman Spring
er also made an address in which he said
that he and Worthington had voted against
the Hennepin bill because the Illinois item
had been cut out. He said that the Hen
nepin cause could bear to wait-bide Its
time; ultimately both bills would pass and
both works be completed Following Mr.,
Springer the following resolutions were
adopted:
WHEREAS, Natural water ways, ca
pable Of floating large river steamers,
furnish medium of successful trans.
pOrtatiOn that Is open to the public, and
can not be mOnOpOllzed by private in
terests; and,
WHEREAS, In promoting the inter
stale commerce of the country the true
policy of the United States government
is to foster, protect, improve, and artl.
iicially connect as far as practicable al
the natural water ways Of the country
which arc Of sufficient importance and
extent to partake Of an interstate
character; and,
WHEREAS, The proper improvement
of the Illinois and Desplalnes rivers
with few miles Of wide and deeI
canal, will connect 1850 miles of large
river navigation with TOO miles Of lak'
navigation, all within the boundaries o
the United States, permeatiDg the hear
Of the Republic, furnishing more mile
of connected inland navigation thar
exists In any other portion Of the world
which, when completed, will add to TIT
clear profits of the inter state commerce
and industries Of the country q sun
greater each year than the entire cos